2350 



The insects enumerated in the preceding- list, with the exception of about half a 

 dozen, are contained in my cabinet ; and most of them were collected in the vi- 

 cinity of Boston. With them are included some, which, though found beyond the 

 boundaries of the State, may eventually be detected in Massachusetts. For these 

 and an immense number of duplicates I am indebted to my friend the Rev. L. W. 

 Leonard, who has still more increased my obligations to him by his disinterested 

 liberality in sending 1 me even the rare and undescribed insects of which he pos- 

 sessed no duplicates. Dr. D. S. C. H. Smith has kindly supplied me with a suit 

 of insects from Sutton, Massachusetts, among which were nearly a hundred spe- 

 cies new to my collection. My acknowledgements are due also to Wm. Oakes, 

 Esq. of Ipswich, particularly for the water- beetles ; and to Prof. N. M. Hentz, 

 formely of Northampton, to Drs. Pickering, Gould, and J. S. C. Greene, Mr. 

 John Randall, Mr. T. Nuttall, Mr. John Bethune, and Miss D. Dix, for several in- 

 teresting insects. 



Even with these augmentations the present list must fall far short of the actual 

 number of species or kinds existing in this Commonwealth. The proportion of 

 insects to plants has been stated to be six species of the former to one of the latter. 

 The flowering plants of Massachusetts amount to above 1200 species ; hence our 

 insects cannot be much less in number than 7000 species. 



Entomology, within a few years, has. engaged the attention of some of the first 

 naturalists of Europe ; and, since the days ot Linne and of Pabricius, vast acces- 

 sions have been made to the number of known insects, and great improvements in 

 the science have been introduced. The results ot this augmented knowledge 

 have not yet reached us, and are beyond the means of most individuals in this 

 country. Should any of the sons of New England have the inclination to turn 

 their attention to this interesting branch of Natural History, they must, for want 

 of the necessary books on the subject, remain in ignorance of the labors of their 

 European contemporaries ; and, although they may have discovered many curious 

 and valuable facts respecting our native insects, they must resign to foreigners 

 the honor of making known the objects of their investigations. 



A long list of names in a dead language may perhaps be considered as a pedan- 

 tic and useless exhibition. As an apology for this it may be stated that but a 

 very few of our insects have received popular names, and that therefore I have 

 been compelled to give only the scientific names by which they are known to nat- 

 uralists. It is a matter of deep regret to me that even this list of hard names is 

 so very imperfect, and that so many species have been left unnamed. For this 

 omission no other excuse can be ottered than a reference to the obstacles and diffi- 

 culties already mentioned, which unavoidably arrest the American naturalist in 

 the midst of his investigations. 



To the names of insects which have been ascertained through published des- 

 criptions I have added the names or initials of the first describers, together with 

 some of the most common synonyms, which have been subsequently imposed. A few 

 names, without any authorities annexed will also be found on this list ; they are 

 applied to species, which, as far as I can ascertain, do not appear to have been 

 published : these it is my hope soon to make known by means of necessary de- 

 scriptions. T. WILLIAM HARRIS. 

 Cambridge, (Mass.) Feb. 1833. 



